The other day, I received the following text from actress Zoie Palmer: And she was right. It WAS like sharing with her the single greatest thing about bringing a child into this world: coming up with a name for it. Except that instead of having 9 months to do it, we have 9 episodes, and…
December 10, 2016: Contest winner!
Early in November, I held a little contest on this blog, asking fans to directly identify two props featured in Dark Matter's second season. Then, we rolled into production and I forgot to announce the winner. And so, better late than never, the winner of the cast-signed script who correctly identified the props - and the episodes…
December 9, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 16 of 91!
A little something from concept artist Henry Fong for Episode 303... Holy crap! Three weeks of production complete! Director Bruce McDonald - the master of ceremonies. First blocking - Craiger, Joe, Dave, and Brad. Do NOT go in there! Script Supervisor Brad Wethlery joins the club. Dashing, no? So what're we doing in the systems…
December 8, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 15 of 91!
Hot on the heels of one fantastic Dark Matter fan Q&A (see yesterday's Roger Cross-dedicated entry) comes another. Director Ron Murphy (director of such episodes as: The one where FIVE mines her memories and finds out how she got on the ship, The one where FOUR kills his former mentor Akita, The one where the Android uses…
December 7, 2016: Dark Matter’s Roger Cross Answers Your Questions!
Back when we were first casting the show, I watched countless auditions for the role of SIX. Going in, I knew that the linchpin of the performances would be that one line of dialogue our lovable father figure utters to FIVE at the end of Episode 9: "But truth is, when the time comes that you…
December 6, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 13 of 91!
While I was back in the office, working on this latest script, production on season 3 continued at the Ishida Palace in Kitchener, Ontario Zairon. In tribute to Dark Matter's latest biggest bad, here are some family portraits c/o the spectacular Roxanne Borris, 1st Assistant Art Director/Graphics... Emperor Ishida Tetsuya Empress Ishida (Li Na) Katsumi Emperor Ishida Hiro…
December 5, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 12 of 91!
Commander Delaney Truffault means business! The Raza's spooky underbelly. Media day with Tanavi Patel and Yael Tygiel. The costumes department has something in the works for the Ishida court. Liz celebrates her birthday with red velvet cupcakes and overtime! Check out this gorgeous render of the Ishida research station. Back home, Lulu has apparently really…
December 4, 2016: Snow Monkeys on the brink! Suji settles in!
It's all over but the crying (as my dad used to say). Despite a valiant effort, and an impressive win in their last week of regular season play, it looks like my Snow Monkeys will come up one game short in their bid to grab that last playoff spot. There were a lot of missed…
December 3, 2016: Introducing…Suji!
Yesterday was the day! Akemi and I went down to Toronto's Union Station to meet the newest member of the family - Suji (aka Sujiko), who comes to us all the way from Portland, Oregon via The Pacific Pug Rescue. Akemi saw little Suji (formerly Suzie) on their website a few weeks back and instantly…
December 2, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 11 of 91! Quiz Ian Brock!
Pictured above: Production Designer Ian Brock - mastermind of the Dark Matter art department and everything from The Raza's to Hyperion-8 to the Ishida Research Facility...and so much more. Under Ian's guidance, our art department has been tearing it up (figuratively speaking) in season 3 and, with so much going on, I thought it would be the…
December 1, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 10 of 91!
We are wrapped(ish!) on Episode 304 and have started production on Episode 301. By the time New Year's rolls around, we'll have three episodes in the can(ish!). Today, we were shooting in the bridge and the infirmary - while prep continued on Episode 302. AND we got a pizza truck! While I was outside perusing the…
November 30, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 9 of 91!
Day 9 of 91! Holy crap! We're practically 10% done on Dark Matter's third season. And I'm not yet 50% done on its scripts. Help me, Obi-Wan. You're my only hope! When I'm not writing scripts (or eating or sleeping), I'm in prep meetings for Episode 302 with director Bruce Mcdonald et al. Today, we enjoyed the…
November 29, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 8 of 91!
What does an Executive Producer do? Well, in the case of Jay Firestone, he sells a show, puts together the financing, then helps craft the creative. Director Ron Murphy getting it done in the infirmary. Jesse stands in for the upright stand and monitors. Temperature control in the containment chamber. Inoculation tool of the future.…
November 28, 2016: Dark Matter Season 3 – Day 7 of 91!
Today, we started prep on Episode 302! Director Bruce McDonald is back in the saddle - flanked by desperadoes Chris Binney and Robbie David. Production Designer Ian Brock gives us a guided tour of the new sets-in-progress. Bruce hangs out in the tech room (and possible future cargo hold?). You shall not pass!!! Our "heavenly"…
November 27, 2016: Sunday monkeys, pugs, and ghostly images!
Holy Macaroni! Is this possible? Could this be? The faintest glimmer of hope on my fantasy football horizon? Could my cellar-dwelling Snow Monkeys actually win this week and, alongside Ivon Bartok's Running Dead, be in a position to sneak into the playoffs next week with a win (coupled with a win by the Running Dead,…